ome vile act of sin? The name of that sin is wanton and ungodly greenhouse gas emissions.

Lobsters grow faster in warmer water and there is currently an oversupply. The price that fishermen receive at the wharf has dropped from around $6 a pound to around $3 a pound. Warmer water can have a negative impact on some species, notably salmon and cod, but others such as lobsters, crabs and sea urchins may thrive. Many of these species are being caught much further North. Maryland blue crabs, for example, are being caught in New England in greater numbers, while the same is true of their trans-Atlantic cousins in Scotland.

Lobster used to be dirt cheap in the North East--it was fed to slaves and field workers. The children of lobster fishermen could be distinguished by their lobster sandwiches from the richer kids who had baloney in their lunch. But times change and fashion changes. I have a replica of a very old cookbook (17th century or earlier) with a historical introduction. French and English tastes in such foods as garlic and snails have flip-flopped several times, as have the social status of these foods--at times the aristocrats enjoyed them, at other times they were left to the peasants.

A McDo Lobster roll is still better than no lobster roll at all. It makes a change from pink slime. But don't expect it to be around long if lobster landing prices rise above the cost of fish or meat. On the whole, seafood is expensive in Ontario. The lobsters sold in the stores are either very pricey or very small or both. Fish and chips aren't nearly as plentiful or good as in Nova Scotia or Maine.